Dugong

How it lives

Dugongs graze on seagrass meadows in shallow coastal water. They usually live alone, as mother and calf pairs or in small groups, although rare large herds are seen, for example in the Persian Gulf. Females first give birth at about 6 to 17 years, after a pregnancy of about 12 to 15 months. A single calf suckles for about 14 to 18 months or longer, and there are 3 to 7 years between calves.

Where it goes

Many dugongs stay close to the seagrass meadows they feed on, so dugongs in neighbouring bays can form separate groups. Satellite tags show that some individuals travel hundreds of kilometres between meadows, while others stay local. There is no single migration route.

We only draw a journey on the map when scientists have tracked it or clearly documented it. For this animal we have not found one yet.

Populations

Australia holds most of the world's dugongs. Their status differs a lot by region: groups along the East African coast and in the Nansei islands of Japan are Critically Endangered, and New Caledonia's group is Endangered. The Persian Gulf and Red Sea hold important groups, while many in Southeast Asia are tiny and fragmented. There are no named subspecies.